Vanderlinden, Terps Set To Start Spring Football Practice
3/6/2000 7:00:00 AM | Football
March 6, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, MD - The University of Maryland football team is set to start spring football practice March 8. Head coach Ron Vanderlinden held a press conference March 6 to discuss his team's progress heading into spring drills as well as the Terps' goals for the 2000 season. Below are excepts from his talk with the media.
On the status of the Terps as he starts his fourth year as head coach:
"To say that we are so much further along that we have ever been is an understatement. We have both the experience and the depth on offense. I feel really good about our linebackers and secondary. I don't think I could be any more encouraged by our kicking game."
"Our two main goals on offense this year are to maintain a rushing attack as good as any of the top teams and to throw the ball more effectively. We have more depth than we have ever had at quarterback and wide receiver."
"Defensively, we need to maintain the ability to stop the run. We must also improve both our pass rush and pass defense."
On Tailback LaMont Jordan, the Terps' Heisman Trophy candidate:
"LaMont truly has earned the label of being called one of the premier backs in college football. He broke the ACC record for the most yards by a junior running back and also broke the Maryland school record. He helped Maryland go from last in the ACC in rushing to first in just three short years. His goals are to come into fall camp in the best shape of his life and to help the team win a bowl game."
"LaMont has the three attributes you look for in a great back, he has the size to finish a run and wear the defense down in the fourth quarter, he has the speed to take the ball the distance when he breaks into the clear, and he has the ability to make the defender miss in the open field."
On the Terps' quarterback situation:
"This is the first time that we have had both experience and depth at the quarterback position. Calvin McCall improved during last season and Latrez Harrison is very talented and I expect him to improve this year. Shaun Hill is a JUCO transfer. He has a lot to learn but I am very interested to see how he does. With the depth we have, this will allow us to redshirt Chris Kelley (a top recruit from Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Md.)."
On the wide receivers:
"This is the deepest we have been at the wide receiver position. We have come a long way in three years. Guilian Gary and Jason Hatala are our top receivers and I would not be surprised if they are up for ACC honors and maybe more than that."
On the offensive line:
"We have the challenge of replacing three players who have since graduated, but we return Melvin Fowler, Matt Crawford and Todd Wike. We allowed the fewest sacks in the conference last year. Melvin has the potential to become one of the finer centers in the ACC and eventually go on to become an All-American."
On the safeties:
"We return all four safeties from our two-deep chart a year ago. I feel really good about that position. Rod Littles, Tony Jackson, Shawn Forte and Randall Jones are all in their third season. This will be the first time Randall has had both a spring and fall camp as a safety and I am anxious to see how he'll do."
On the linebackers:
"We have three juniors returning (Marlon Moore, Aaron Thompson and Kevin Bishop). The combination of those three linebackers might be the best in the ACC."
On the defensive line:
"You could see freshmen helping us next fall. I am very encouraged with the way we recruited up front this year."
On the kicking game:
"I couldn't be more encouraged by who we have returning. Brian Kopka, who has hit 28 field goals the past two seasons, has been our kicker for the past three years. Punter Brooks Barnard, who has a 42.0 yard average, has tremendous potential."
